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Patterson Hood Comments on John Neff’s Departure

As we reported yesterday, Drive-By Truckers guitarist John Neff has decided to leave the group. Neff made the announcement via Facebook and it appears that it was a surprise to at least some members of the band. Patterson Hood writes that he learned of this news “by my sister who was up earlier than me and read it on Facebook.” Then he adds, “In all fairness, he did send me an email saying he was quitting his ‘job’ and wouldn’t be going with us to DC this weekend a few minutes before he posted it, but I was attempting to sleep in.” Hood also comments “There are no plans to try to replace John.” His complete statement appears below.

Drive-By Truckers will perform three nights at the 9:30 Club in Washington, DC, starting on Saturday.

Y’ALL:

As I guess most of you have heard or read by now, John Neff has left Drive-By Truckers. Effective immediately.

I was actually first informed by my sister who was up earlier than me and read it on Facebook. In all fairness, he did send me an email saying he was quitting his “job” and wouldn’t be going with us to DC this weekend a few minutes before he posted it, but I was attempting to sleep in.

Kind of a sad way to end a sixteen year relationship, but we’ve all known that things have been strained on that front for over a year now.

He made no mention of future plans, a player as fine as Neff will have no trouble ever finding work. He would be an asset to whatever situation he applied himself to. We certainly appreciate the incredible work he’s done with us and as I said, we wish him nothing but the absolute best.

DBT will continue onward, as we always do. There are no plans to try to replace John. I’ve never considered anyone ever to be replaceable in this band. We have constantly changed and morphed and this will be no exception. We always say, play every show like it’s your last, it could be.

But not right now.

DBT is making definite plans towards starting a new album in the spring and I’m always excited about recording new songs and seeing where that leads the band.

This band has been a big part of my life for nearly 20 years. It’s never been a job to me and I’d rather quit and move on than have it ever be that. We’re a big, sometimes dysfunctional family, but we’ve always drawn strength from each other and the big glorious noise we make. I always try to treat every new year as a new beginning and this will certainly apply this weekend.